Peace Of Heaven takes out the Pot Of Gold
Champion South Australian reinsperson Danielle Hill made the right choice in the $15,000 Kevin & Kay Seymour SA Pot Of Gold Final (2230m) at Globe Derby Park on Saturday.
The in-form Hill chose the Ryan Hryhorec-trained Peace Of Heaven ahead of Sea Salt, prepared in Kadina by Tyson Linke, after partnering both to excellent heat wins last week.
Peace Of Heaven ($2.20 into $1.70 fav) landed the SA Pot Of Gold, coming from gate six to score a 1-1/2 metre win from the fast-finishing Sea Salt ($2.80) with Buzz Bomb ($8.50), three metres away third in a good mile rate of 1:58.2.
Hill opted to go back to last early from the wide draw and Peace Of Heaven was a clear last in the field of 10, while Sea Salt, driven by Corey Johnson, found herself midfield on the fence from her barrier eight, gate one on the second row.
Trainer-driver Samantha Hill, who won the inaugural SA Pot Of Gold on Offyarocka Crocker last year, had Imposter Boy in this year’s final and he settled outside the lead early but went amiss with about 1400 metres to run causing a disruption to several runners.
Danielle Hill took the opportunity to allow Peace Of Heaven to stride forward around the field to grab the position outside the leader Magic Storm.
She sent the favourite for home coming off the back and grabbed a winning break.
Sea Salt, which had trouble obtaining a clear run, finally got into the open but was giving too much of a start to the eventual winner. She sprinted brilliantly but ran out of ground to catch the leader.
Hill, who has driven 20 winners this year since January 1 to clearly lead the SA premiership, said it had been a tough call to select Peace Of Heaven ahead of Sea Salt.
“They are both really nice horses with great careers ahead,” Hill said.
“I made my decision on Wednesday morning before the draws so Tyson could find a driver for Sea Salt.
“In the end, I stayed with Peace Of Heaven because Ryan (Hryhorec) gives me so many excellent drives. Often, I see him sitting on the sidelines watching when he could easily have taken my drives.
“He has been a great supporter, so I stayed with Peace Of Heaven, and it proved the right decision.
“When he went to the front off the back, he caught sight of Imposter Boy which had been pulled up and taken to the outside of the track and started to switch off thinking the race was over.
“I had to shake him up, but I felt he had done enough.”
Trainer Ryan Hryhorec said Peace Of Heaven, now a winner of six of his eight starts for the stable, was a horse that could continue to improve.
“He has a burst of high speed which sets him apart from most horses,” Hryhorec said.
“Dani drove him superbly tonight. She made a forward move at just the right time and he was too good.
“I believe in time he can measure up in the fast class. He has to toughen up a bit, but as I said, his outstanding sprint, will always help him. The quicker tempo in the fast class will also help.”
Hryhorec said he would continue to try and find suitable races for Peace Of Heaven as he went through the grades.
Sea Salt lost no admirers with her excellent second.
From gate one on the second row, driver Corey Johnson followed Buzz Bomb, from gate one through early but found himself midfield on the fence in running.
He couldn’t get into the running line until around 500 metres from the finish and didn’t get clear run until around 300 metres from home.
The grey filly flashed home, but she could not catch Peace Of Heaven.
- Story: Graham Fischer
- Photo Walter Bulyga